Linda Lusardi

Linda Lusardi (born 18 September 1958 in Palmers Green, London) is an English actress, television presenter and former nude model. She is married to the actor Samuel Kane and they have two children, Lucy and Jack.

Lusardi began her topless modelling career as a Page Three girl at the age of 18 in 1976 and in 1977 she appeared nude in the February edition of 'Mayfair' magazine. She was also nude in the November 1977 edition of 'Fiesta' magazine. The nude photographs were taken of her at the very start of her career ; she later posed nude & was featured on the cover of "Penthouse" in 1985. In 1982 she starred in a video called "So you want to be a glamour photographer" it became Britain's biggest selling video of its kind. Also featured are "Bond Girl" Joni Flynn, Tracey Dixon and several other topless models of the time. There are also some fabulous and unpublished stills shot by "top photographer" Jon Gray also available. She was voted the Best Page 3 Girl Ever in 2005.

As an actress, Lusardi has appeared in the drama series The Bill and Brookside. She joined the cast of Emmerdale in 2007 as Carrie Nicholls, an ex of Tom King and mother of his secret child, Scarlet. Her first on-screen appearance was on 12 February. She left the programme within a year.

It was revealed on Friday 28 September 2007 on ITV's This Morning that Linda Lusardi had quit the soap, and will leave in early 2008.

She is a supporter of UK pantomime and stars with her husband Sam Kane in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs each Christmas at major theatres in the UK. Recent venues have been Woking, Southend and Plymouth (2006-7). Co-stars include Kev Orkian as Muddles, with Sam Kane directing the whole feature and playing the Prince, while Lusardi plays Queen Lucretia.

Lusardi took part in the reality game show The Games in 2004 and the ITV daytime programme Have I Been Here Before?. She also sells a range of skin-care products on shopping television. In 1992 she appeared in the "Dead Ringer" observation round of The Krypton Factor.

In January 2008 she joined the new series of ITV's Dancing On Ice where she finished in sixth place. Her professional skating partner was Daniel Whiston, who temporarily moved into her family home to make training more convenient. Lusardi had to catch up with her fellow skaters after falling and breaking a bone in her foot during her first hour on the ice. She also took part in -and won- channel 4 show 'celebrity come dine with me' in 2008. In the show she was vote the best dinner host by celebrities and fellow contestants Rodney Marsh, Lesley Joseph and Paul Ross.

On 29 December 2008 the BBC reported that Linda Lusardi had dialled 999 after getting stuck in heavy traffic on her way to a pantomime appearance. She called emergency services to ask if she could drive on the M25's hard shoulder so she could reach the High Wycombe theatre in time. A Hertfordshire police spokesman said: "The request was denied and she was given suitable words of advice."